The 1976 built tug GUDRY, (ex TYPHOON) whilst towing an LPG tanker November 5th from the Bonny River got in problem , after the tanker ran aground the tug tried to refloat the tanker and capsized during the attemptPhoto’s : crew. Reynaert (c)

I remember seeing her or her sister Tempest moored at the Parkade in Rotterdam some years back.

Just another of those iconic deep-sea tugs from year gone by, aka Smit Rotterdam, Zwartee Zee etc. Now just the OSV do the big tows and expect that the South African tugs will be gone eventually too, only to remain as model on the pond.

It is somewhat hard to believe that this vessel, being a well built heavy salvage tug, and a solid one at that, and that she has probably seen many tough situations all over the world, but to come unstuck in what appears to be rather benign conditions it difficult to imagine.

The sea is an unforgiving master at times and in this case something drastic has taken place.

Likely that the capsizing of GUDRY was down to poor ship handling (girded) as a result of a relatively inexperienced bridge team combined with an underestimation of the power of her circa 134 tonnes bollard pull. She might be a constructive total loss - given her age. One to watch.........